The Hemp Trading Company

THTC ( The Hemp Trading Company ) is an ethically driven underground clothing label, specializing in environmentally friendly , politically conscious, made of hemp , bamboo , organic cotton and other sustainable fabrics. It was founded by brothers Drew (Dru) and Gav Lawson and Dan Sodegren in 1999.

Origins

The Hemp Trading Company had its origins in Hempology, a “hemp awareness group” at University of Hull . Offshoots of the group appeared on other campuses, helping consolidate the brand’s clubbing and music image. [2] In 1999, the founders, brothers Dru and Gav Lawson and their friend, Dan Sodergren, [1] [3] then set up their business in Bristol and London. [4]

Company history

In 2008, Jeremy Smith, editor of The Ecologist said that when he started at the magazine in 2001, the general idea of ​​fashionable clothing was also environmentally friendly “laughable,” but that the lawson brothers had proved this wrong. He was quoted as saying: “While everyone else was in the process of being ill-fitting and uncomplicated that they would not make it into a Littlewoods catalog, they were – years before anyone else that I knew of – actually responding to what the young people with Whom They REMAIN connected so wanted to be seen wearing. Now of course every Kate , Sienna and Lilywants to be seen in green, but it is always better than that. ” [5]

In addition to hemp, THTC clothing uses bamboo and organic cotton . [6]

The firm networked widely with DJs, MCs, musicians and celebrities, to build up their business. In 2006 they were shortlisted for The Observer ‘ s Annual Ethical Fashion Awards, which was awarded to Woody Harrelson , who was on the judging panel. [1] By 2008 They HAD Produced Goods for the bands Beardyman , Morcheeba and Braintax , widening customer reach and Their Increasing awareness of sustainable design. [6] By 2011, the company had an annual turnover of £ 100,000 and a London-based team of nine staff, and their clothing had been worn by people as diverse as Benjamin ZephaniahThe American rap group De La Soul , and the actor Brad Pitt . [3]

In 2012 THTC collaborated with the Soil Association , Carbon Trust and Fair Wear Foundation to Produce a line of shirts made from 100% organic, hand-harvested cotton, SPECIFICALLY Produced using wind power and Stated to-have a carbon footprint That Was 90% smaller than that of more typically produced equivalents. [7] Some of the earliest THTC designs were explicitly political, such as a slogan reading ” George Bush & son , family butchers (est.1989)” [2] This combination of political activism, urban music, and street artThe Mau Mau, a graffiti artist, is central to the brand . [1] [7]

See also

  • The Hempest

References

  1. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Roberts, Zoe. “THTC – Inspiring change; one Hip-Hop head at a time” . B-Boy News . Retrieved September 17, 2015 .
  2. ^ Jump up to:a b Pilcher, Tim (2005). Spliffs 3: the last word in cannabis culture? . London: Collins & Brown. p. 96. ISBN 9781843403104 .
  3. ^ Jump up to:a b Siegle, Lucy (2011). “Pick of the green crop” . The Guardian . Guardian News and Media Limited . Retrieved September 17, 2015 .
  4. Jump up^ Siegle, Lucy (30 January 2005). “Good buy: Visor from The Hemp Trading Company” . The Observer . Guardian News and Media Limited . Retrieved September 17, 2015 .
  5. Jump up^ Dryden, Sarah (8 February 2008). “Cutting Edge Fashion With a Clear Conscience” . New Consumer . New Consumer Ltd. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008 . Retrieved September 17, 2015 .
  6. ^ Jump up to:a Sparkes B , Matthew (19 February 2008). “THTC brings musicians on board with hemp” . Smart Planet . CBS Interactive Limited. Archived from the original on 29 October 2008 . Retrieved September 17, 2015 .
  7. ^ Jump up to:a b Mogul, Priyanka (25 January 2012). “Urban legend: THTC takes environmentalism to the streets” . The Ecologist . Retrieved September 17, 2015 .